Ex-Lobo steps up to kick 'tryout'

• Katie Hnida, the first woman to score a point in an NCAA Division I-A football game in 2003 as a kicker for the University of New Mexico, didn't “Save (Lauren) Silberman” in her assessment of the kicker's failed “tryout” Sunday at the New York Jets' facility in New Jersey. “It is disappointing,” Hnida said. “I hoped she would go out and do justice for an NFL tryout, because there are lots of people who have dreamed of going to the NFL. It should be something serious.” Silberman's two kickoffs traveled 30 total yards. Then she called it quits because of an injured quadriceps.

• 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver spent time recently working with the Trevor Project, which provides suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth. Culliver made waves before the Super Bowl, saying a gay teammate wouldn't be welcome in an NFL locker room. Culliver got torched in Super Bowl XLVII, helping make Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco the highest-paid player in the league. On Monday, Flacco signed a six-year, $120.6 million deal.

• Next week, the 49ers' trade of quarterback Alex Smith to the Chiefs is expected to be announced officially. Smith leaves San Francisco as a somewhat sympathetic figure, maybe even appreciated. Who would have believed that two years ago?

• Yankees general manager Brian Cashman broke his right fibula and dislocated his right ankle on his second parachute jump Monday with the Golden Knights of the U.S. Army. Cashman has performed stunts over the years to draw attention to various causes, this one in support of the Wounded Warrior Project. “While I certainly didn't intend to raise awareness in exactly this fashion,” Cashman said, “I'm extremely happy that the Wounded Warrior Project is getting the well-deserved additional attention.”

• The Chicago Blackhawks' run of consecutive games without a loss reached 22 on Sunday with a 2-1 shootout win over the Red Wings. “It's just pretty amazing,” said Patrick Kane, who scored for the Hawks on the power play to help them extend their streak. “We've talked about the resiliency with this team the past month. It seems like we just keep finding ways to either keep ourselves in the game or find a way to win it at the end. (It was) just another fun afternoon here.” The Hawks go for No. 23 today at home against Minnesota.

• Pacific men's basketball coach Bob Thomason is retiring after 25 seasons and will make his final two appearances at Spanos Center this week — Thursday (7 p.m. against UC Irvine) and Saturday (4 p.m. against Long Beach State). Thomason would like the focus to be on his players, especially Saturday on Senior Day. But here's hoping Spanos Center is packed to honor the venerable coach and Pacific alum.